‘Parentemonials’: Ronan
Ronan is a recent newcomer to Canada moving from Hong Kong in just August of this year with his family and two children.
His eldest Giselle participates in the Free Play for Kids after school program at McKee Public Elementary — the round school! Ronan wants his children to be exposed to various sports, and to get stronger physically. Giselle has been enjoying learning Basketball!
Ronan’s Parentemonial Transcript
This program is really amazing. It's been so helpful for me as I plan after-school activities, instead of using regular childcare.
Hi everyone, my name is Ronan. I'm from Hong Kong, and I came to Edmonton with my family in early August this year. We asked the school if there were any after-school extracurricular activities, but they said maybe not.
On the first day Free Play was setting up, I remember seeing Coach Josh there. I asked him a few questions, and he was really friendly and helpful.
For Giselle, I just wanted her to get healthier, stronger, and more involved in sports. Back in Hong Kong, she was doing fencing. But here, she’s trying new activities she had never played before, like American soccer, dodgeball, and basketball.
One day she told me, "Daddy, I couldn’t hold the ball. My teammates passed it to me so hard." And I just said, "Practice makes perfect."
Now she tells me, “I can hold the ball. I won the games!” She’s much stronger now. Her energy is better than before, and even her breathing has improved.
But the most important change is her mindset. She’s learning how to work in a team, how to participate, and sometimes even how to be the leader. She's really building her confidence through this experience.
